[1] was a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Toshima, Tokyo and dropout of Saitama University, he had served in the city assembly of Kawagoe, Saitama for four terms since 1979 and then in the assembly of Saitama Prefecture for two terms since 1995, both from Democratic Socialist Party. In 2001, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time.